The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) and the Jammu and Kashmir state government have been briefed that the escape of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Naveed Jutt, alias Abu Hanzala, from a city hospital in Srinagar may cause a spurt in the recruitment of militants specially in state’s southern region.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday also registered a case to probe Jutt’s escape in which two police officials were killed when militants, helping Jutt escape, fired upon them in Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital.

Two senior MHA officials said that the ministry had been briefed about the possible fallout of Jutt’s escape and added “all possible course of actions were being taken to handle the situation”. “The NIA will be moving to Srinagar on Tuesday to take up the case for investigation,” NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal said.

A senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer, on the condition of anonymity, said that Jutt’s “popularity”, weapon’s handling skills and ability to motivate new recruits into militant fold can cause issues for the security forces battling the armed insurgency in the Valley. “He (Jutt) left home to study in a madrassa when he was five.He is conditioned to fight without caving in and even used to call himself a commando.He has shown his capacity to recruit militants and is expert in weapons handling. Its these so-called skills that make him a perfect candidate for recruiting and training youth ,” said the police officer.

The officer added that an informer who had helped in capturing Jutt back in 2014 has been under police protection ever since his escape from the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital.

“The informer was supposed to drop off Naveed in an area in Kulgam on his Scooter. Naveed was in a burkha and as soon the duo approached a security force blockade, officials were waiting to capture the militant,” SP Vaid, DGP, J&K, said. “We are making best efforts to nab the terrorist.”